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auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 08:04 AM
http://i64.tinypic.com/2dw86ec.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/jhgcjp.jpg

So im including two pictures with this post so you can see the difference. The first is from 2011 (I was 21) & the second picture is from a few weeks ago (I’m 27, almost 28). As you can see I have like 1/3 of the hair I used to have. I literally have no idea how this happened or when exactly it started. But looking back at pictures, the most recent ones I’ve found with normal thickness of hair was from 2011, so 7 years ago.

For the past almost 3 years, I have stopped dying my hair, use no sulfate or silicone products, use oils to massage my scalp, take vitamins & eat healthy. I also do keep up with my trims. Not only has my hair not gotten any thicker (if anything, I think it’s even thinner), but i started growing at collarbone length, & it’s only now just barely at my bra strap. Idk what to do anymore. Nothing is working. My hair in a ponytail is like slightly more than an inch around, & no matter how I style it it looks stringy & you can see my scalp. I’ve had my thyroid, hormones & vitamin levels checked - all normal. I’ve ever been to a dermatologist a couple years ago, she said I was fine.

I wore extensions for a while & im considering getting a wig, but neither of these options are what I want. I want real, long hair back to my normal thickness. This bothers me on a daily basis, idk what to do anymore. I’m way too young to already be losing all my hair.

lapushka
February 13th, 2018, 08:28 AM
Have you ever measured your circumference? I would start, and do it yearly (it varies season to season, that is normal). This way you can keep a good eye on how it evolves.

You just make a ponytail and measure around it (don't include the elastic in your measurement, FYI).

Oils on the scalp can cause major shedding for some people. I would experiment without oils and see if there's a difference. Same with conditioner on the scalp. It can cause major shedding in some.

Suze
February 13th, 2018, 08:35 AM
Have you ever measured your circumference? I would start, and do it yearly (it varies season to season, that is normal). This way you can keep a good eye on how it evolves.

You just make a ponytail and measure around it (don't include the elastic in your measurement, FYI).

Oils on the scalp can cause major shedding for some people. I would experiment without oils and see if there's a difference. Same with conditioner on the scalp. It can cause major shedding in some.

^This! I had to learn this the hard way.

auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 08:53 AM
I have tried not using the oils, plus I only use them like once a week. My hair was starting to get this thin even before I started using oils though. I have to condition my scalp though because it’s extremely dry as is all of my hair no matter how much deep conditioner I put in it. It’s nice & soft for about a day after I wash it & then turns to crap again. And I have measure the circumference of my ponytail. It’s only slightly more than an inch.. :(

hayheadsbird
February 13th, 2018, 09:32 AM
This might sound like an odd question, but have you had a baby? Some people have post partum shed, which could be a contributing factor.

Lisa-K
February 13th, 2018, 09:37 AM
This might sound like an odd question, but have you had a baby? Some people have post partum shed, which could be a contributing factor.

I was about to ask the exact same question. The amount of thinning I see between your old picture and your recent picture is soooo similar to my "before" and "after" baby pictures. I literally lost half my hair. It does grow back eventually, but it's super slow.

auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 09:48 AM
Nope, never had a baby. I wish the solution was that simple.

lapushka
February 13th, 2018, 09:51 AM
I still would try without conditioner or oil, though, and compare what you shed, since that *is* problematic for some and you are using it *both* and consistently it appears.

auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 09:58 AM
The thing is, I’m not really shedding that much anymore, at least I don’t think I am. It just got super thin all at once & never grew back basically.

Margarita
February 13th, 2018, 10:07 AM
Your hair is absolutely nice, it appear you have split ends and ofcourse i suggest you to trim them and start doing a coconut/olive oil treatment before shower. I mean it, you have gorgeous hair, i see no thinning. I have thin/medium hair so, i feel you.

auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 10:18 AM
I mean, I appreciate it but the thinning is pretty obvious from the first picture to the second picture. It’s a drastic difference. You can literally see my shirt through my hair in the second pic. And I have trimmed my split ends, 3 weeks ago unfortunately they’re already back & in a week I’m going to have to cut off the tiny amount of growth I did achieve...

Beeboo123
February 13th, 2018, 11:53 AM
I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. Are you on birth control? They can cause major hairloss in some people.

divinedobbie
February 13th, 2018, 01:53 PM
Honestly my first thought was that it looks like you've lost a lot of weight. You said your hair started to thin sometime in the past 7 years if I can remember correctly. Is there any chance you changed your diet majority or tried to lose the weight rapidly? It might not be the case but that happened to me so I thought I'd at least suggest it. (And my hair never grew back to its prior thickne

auroramichelle
February 13th, 2018, 03:20 PM
No, I’m not on birth control. I did lose weight, however I only lost about 40 pounds & I lost it over the course of a year & a half, very slowly & no starvation or anything just healthier eating, which from everything I read should have positively effected my hair but it didn’t. I also lost it after my hair was already extremely thin, so I don’t think that’s the cause. I’m literally having so much trouble figuring out what could have caused this. It seems like it literally happened for no reason other than to make me miserable.

jera
February 13th, 2018, 04:34 PM
Are you experiencing more stress in your life? Chronic stress is a killer for hair. Then as hair thins stress becomes worse. No one has recommended vitamin B supplements, but I'd give that a try before giving up entirely and cutting. B complex vitamins are anti stressors and since B is water soluble an excess with be excreted through your urine. I'd also try a Keratin/Collagen formula to help strengthen you hair and keep it growing. I love your eye makeup in picture #2 BTW. That's dead sexy.

Savvyhorsez
February 13th, 2018, 05:19 PM
I too am in the same boat, (Fine, and thin hair.) my hair hasn't grown an inch in the past year, and it's as thin as it's ever been. I have done everything imaginable topical or internally. (Vitamins and healthy foods.) I think maybe it's just how I am. However, I did find that massaging aloe vera (Fresh from the plant.) on my hair made it feel so nice! I wish you luck and if you find a magical solution, please let me know! :)

chomsky
February 13th, 2018, 05:23 PM
Have you moved? Change in the water type/weather can affect hair pretty badly.

I'd say visit a doctor (if you're able), then they could refer you to a specialist and tell you whether it's permanent/what the next course of action is.

:blossom:

Edit: reread and saw you've been to a dermatologist. I've got no other advice I'm afraid.

AutobotsAttack
February 13th, 2018, 07:02 PM
I think your hair looks lovely. Could be undetected breakage throughout the years? Maybe?

cathair
February 13th, 2018, 07:48 PM
It looks like your hair has changed quite significantly in texture. In the first picture, it's quite fluffy and voluminous. In the second, it appears to be clinging to itself.

I'm not sure it could be the cause of any thinning, but is there anything that could be building up on your hair? It looks sort of coated and I don't think that will be helping your hair look any thicker, if it's clumping together. Do you ever clarify?

For what it's worth, even after the change I still think your hair looks quite substantial. It's not at all wispy, or flyaway.

wannabe-rusalka
February 13th, 2018, 07:52 PM
Although it really sucks to say, hair loss sometimes runs in families. This is very common in my family among women, my mother had quite thick hair but lost thickness in her 20s, my sister is losing thickness in her 20s, and its possible that I might too. Ask some women in your family if they have experienced anything similar, if they have its likely its just genetic and there is little you can do.

What method of washing do you use?

pahbee
February 13th, 2018, 08:54 PM
It's hard to see from the picture angles, but by the sounds of your post/situation it seems like it's more than just a diet change, change in haircare, etc. I would try visiting different doctors and derms and see what they have to say about it. It must just be a number of physical things, not just the thyroid. In the meantime I'd just try to cut down the stress, you can't really know that it's "just happening" I'm sure hair loss comes from a ton of places not just genetic. Think happy hair thoughts and have spa days. Your skin and makeup look lovely btw!

hayheadsbird
February 13th, 2018, 11:23 PM
Could it be product related? If you had a cut 3 weeks ago to deal with splits, and its already splitting again is there something in your hair care routine that's contributing to both?

Margarita
February 14th, 2018, 06:28 AM
It could be genes, hormonal imbalance, PCOS, or just stress. By my eyes, i dont see any thinning, i see medium/thick with nice hair tips. Taking vitamins would be a good idea, try washing your hair with sulfate-free shampoo. I also recommend you to start exercising. If you dye your hair, move to organic ammonia-free hair dyes and i believe you'll see difference :)

lapushka
February 14th, 2018, 06:52 AM
Do you heat style a lot, if so it can be breakage, and that runs the course of the full length of your hair, if a lot of it broke off, yes the lengths can appear thinner.

If you want to cut out heat styling (hot tools, not a blowdryer on warm/cool), then I would start doing that, and remember it's like starting off from a shaved head. Heat damage can be the full strand.

IsisMoon
February 14th, 2018, 06:55 AM
I'd also go with genes. I had a thicker mane in my 20's as well. Could definitely be that if everything else is ok.

Beeboo123
February 14th, 2018, 10:57 AM
I don’t mean to be rude, I noticed that you seem to have quite a lot of white dots in your second photo, is your hair chemically treated, or do you use heat on it? That could cause breakage throughout the entire length, leading to the appearance of thinner hair.

My hair became a lot thinner in recent years, and we’re about the same age. For me, it runs in the family, and I can only accept my hair for what it is. Sometimes, thinning is unavoidable, and the only thing we can do is to get used to our “new” hair.

lapushka
February 14th, 2018, 11:12 AM
I don’t mean to be rude, I noticed that you seem to have quite a lot of white dots in your second photo, is your hair chemically treated, or do you use heat on it? That could cause breakage throughout the entire length, leading to the appearance of thinner hair.

Beeboo, I noticed that too, in the last 3 to 4 inches, which is why I asked her if she was using heat. :flower:

OP, you'd be surprised what those hot tools can do. I once lost half my thickness in my length from BSL down to hip when we got all the white dots (breakage) out; yours might have come out on their own.

DweamGoiL
February 14th, 2018, 11:17 AM
It looks like your hair has changed quite significantly in texture. In the first picture, it's quite fluffy and voluminous. In the second, it appears to be clinging to itself.

I'm not sure it could be the cause of any thinning, but is there anything that could be building up on your hair? It looks sort of coated and I don't think that will be helping your hair look any thicker, if it's clumping together. Do you ever clarify?

For what it's worth, even after the change I still think your hair looks quite substantial. It's not at all wispy, or flyaway.

I have had some thinning over the years myself, but recently, I also discovered that build-up can make your hair look really thin and adds to the frustration of it all. I also noticed a lot of splitting in your last .5" of your hair. I would start with a good clarifying and chelating shampoo treatment and apply that a couple of times in a row. I am not saying that is going to be the magic bullet here, but it will give you a more fair view of your current hair situation. After that, I would go see a doctor and see what is going on (assuming the hair still looks like it's substantially thinning).

For me, I am in my late 40's, and although no one talks about it in my family, I remember my grandmother's hair was very thin by the time she hit her 70's/80's and my mother also had experienced thinning to the point that even with the old lady short beehive do, you could still see her scalp very prominently through the hair...so I know most likely, it's just a runs in the family situation. But, having said that...it's still a good idea to go see a doctor and if they don't hear you out, keep insisting. Women's hairloss is not something that many doctors are willing to take on for some reason.

Glitch
February 14th, 2018, 11:39 AM
I don’t mean to be rude, I noticed that you seem to have quite a lot of white dots in your second photo, is your hair chemically treated, or do you use heat on it? That could cause breakage throughout the entire length, leading to the appearance of thinner hair.

My hair became a lot thinner in recent years, and we’re about the same age. For me, it runs in the family, and I can only accept my hair for what it is. Sometimes, thinning is unavoidable, and the only thing we can do is to get used to our “new” hair.


Beeboo, I noticed that too, in the last 3 to 4 inches, which is why I asked her if she was using heat. :flower:

OP, you'd be surprised what those hot tools can do. I once lost half my thickness in my length from BSL down to hip when we got all the white dots (breakage) out; yours might have come out on their own.

I also see some thick strands of hair ending pretty early on in your hair length. It could very well be a possibility that your hair is still growing at a thick rate but keeps breaking off due to damage (therefore often not making it to the end). Plus, I read that you said your hair thickness is 2 inches, which is average, so maybe damage is the culprit preventing many strands from growing long. If it’s not from heat, I’d try to find out what’s causing this. If it’s indeed from heat, try out the hair wrap straightening method :) It leaves hair just as straight but much softer as well (damage-free).

auroramichelle
February 14th, 2018, 03:43 PM
@Jera - I mean, I’m constantly stressed lol. I’ve considered that as a possibility, but I’ve alwyas been stresssed, even before my hair started thinning out so idk. I do take a lot of vitamins, I’ve never tried Keratin before mostly because I’ve heard that for some people, too much keratin could make their hair worse. Oh & thank you btw! I love doing eye makeup, great distraction from my hair lol.

@savvyhorsez - I’m sorry you’re going through this too, it sucks.. :(

@chomskey - I have moved, but only one state over so same weather. Also, I moved recently, way after my hair was already thin.

@Autobotsattack - I do have a lot of breakage, which I’m currently trying to fix but I don’t think that’s the entire problem, because it’s such a huge difference in thickness & it’s also very thin on the top, not just the length.

@cathair - I don’t clarify.. I wanted to try it but I was told that clarifying shampoos would be too harsh on my extremely fragile hair. If you know of any that are more gentle, I’d love to know!

@wannabe-rusalka - my dad is bald, but all of the women in my family’s hair is fine. My moms is only about shoulder length but it’s about medium thickness, & would probably be thicker but she’s been bleaching it for years. My aunts on both sides also have shorter hair, but it’s definitely thick. As for washing, I wash every 3-4 days with shampoo, & conditioner. I also deep condition once a week, use oils once a week, & I’ve started using Olaplex once a week to try & repair my damage.

@pahbee - yeah, I had extensive blood work done a few months ago, and got nearly everything checked & nothing is wrong with me. I do have some stomache issues, but I’ve had them since I was 7, so I doubt that’s what’s causing this. I have considered seeing a different dermatologist to get a second opinion, but it’s a matter of finding one really. And thank you!! Lots of moisturizer & years of practice with liquid eyeliner lol.

@hayheadsbird - I’m not sure, but I don’t think so, I’m very careful with the products I choose, & make sure they’re free of sulfates & silicones & all that nasty stuff we’re not supposed to use.

@margarita - I’ve had my blood tested for all of those hormone issues already.. & yes in the first picture my hair was medium/thick.. in the second you can literally see right through my hair to my shirt. I already do take vitamins & haven’t died my hair in almost 3 years.

@beeboo123 & lapushka - my hair is not chemically treated & I never touch it with a blow dryer. I straighten it on a low setting with heat protectant about once a week during the winter. I don’t touch it with heat at all once it’s 50 degrees or higher outside & I can safely leave the house with wet hair to let it dry naturally wavy without getting sick. However in the first picture when my hair was super thick, I literally straightened it nearly every day, for years as well as dyed it blonde multiple times & my hair was perfectly fine. Now that I’m taking better care of it, it’s making zero difference.

@Dweamgoil - like I said before, I’ve been afraid to try a clarifying shampoo due to the harshness. If you have any recommendations on gentler ones, I’d really appreciate that. Also, I don’t think it runs in my family at least not with the women. Like I said my dad is bald, but I didn’t think that a woman’s hair could be affected by her father, I could be wrong though.

@glitch - I do have a lot of breakage, but like I’ve said it makes no sense. I take very good care of my hair so I’m not too sure what could even be causing it. Also, the top of my hair is very thin, to the point where you can see my scalp vey visibly in multiple places. You can’t see it in the picture simply because in most pics I take, I don’t include the top of my head since it looks so bad. My thickness isn’t even at 2 inches, it’s more like 1&1/2 & it used to be much more than that. I remember having ponytails so fluffy that I would get frustrated with them.

divinedobbie
February 14th, 2018, 03:48 PM
What about the health of your scalp? Do you have any flaking, itchiness? Do you shed more the longer you go without washing?

When you run your fingers through your hair are you noticing lots of strands come out? ie. are you still actively shedding or has your hair thinned at some time in the past, now you are shedding regularly, but you just haven't regrown the hair?

..

ETA: Just reread your thread to refresh my memory. You mentioned your scalp is always dry but that doesn't really sound like SD or possibly fungal to me. I don't have experience with either though.
And you said it looks like you shed a moderate amount now so that answers my second question. Have you discussed with your doctor about using minoxidil (even if temporarily, meaning atleast 6 months to a year but not your whole life) to maybe jump start your regrowth?

Glitch
February 14th, 2018, 04:50 PM
@glitch - I do have a lot of breakage, but like I’ve said it makes no sense. I take very good care of my hair so I’m not too sure what could even be causing it. Also, the top of my hair is very thin, to the point where you can see my scalp vey visibly in multiple places. You can’t see it in the picture simply because in most pics I take, I don’t include the top of my head since it looks so bad. My thickness isn’t even at 2 inches, it’s more like 1&1/2 & it used to be much more than that. I remember having ponytails so fluffy that I would get frustrated with them.

I'm so sorry to hear about the breakage :( If it makes you feel better, I myself actually went through a long and upsetting hair loss phase for about 3-4 years, and it only recently stopped after some changes I made (so it can totally be possible to stop it). I'm not sure if our hair is really alike, but for me, it straightens very easily (so the lowest setting is always my choice too) and basically stays straight until the next wash, roughly 4 days later. Almost out of nowhere, I began to get massive amounts of shedding, especially in the shower. And even though I loved bangs, I couldn't keep them anymore since some of my scalp became too "see-through" and it looked awful. Plus I'm young, there shouldn't have been so much shedding like that. Anyway that was all until last May, when I stopped using heat completely and went sulfate-free. I was super good about it until the end of summer, when I began straightening again after family wedding events. Once again, my hair started to fall out. I remember trying to get rid of it from the washroom counters and bathtub before anyone would see. It was horrible.

I have found that while going sulfate-free has made my hair softer, it didn't truly strengthen my strands, compared to when I stopped using heat (the damaged areas stopped getting worse). Hair often changes as we grow older -sometimes in color, sometimes in texture, sometimes in what it can handle, etc. I had always treated my hair the same way since I was 12, but only experienced hair loss many years later, even though I hadn't done anything that different. I really wonder if your hair would also transform if you cut out heat completely too. I stopped dying and bleaching my hair almost 2 years ago to stop the hair loss, and still didn't notice any real drastic change compared to when I stopped straightening my hair. I'm once again heat free, and shockingly, even when I brush through my hair, almost NO hair falls out! I can hardly believe it. My hair is doing so much better and I am considering getting bangs once again, after fully growing out the remaining damage. I would really suggest going 4 months without heat and testing if your hair improves. And about the scalp, it really might be because of the build up. Even if you don't use hair products, naturally, your natural hair oils, dust, etc., it all layers up and often needs to be clarified. The invisible matted weight may be causing your scalp to shed, especially if you go a few days without washing and the sebum builds up (this has been scientifically proven to be an indirect cause of hair loss, due to all the clogging it does). Personally, I would recommend Calia's Organic Purifying Shampoo for Dry Hair. It works really well for my fine hair. They have a saying, "Years of build-up from synthetic hair products can take time to remove," which is how bad it can be sometimes. I'm sure you can also find similar brands that are all natural and not harsh on sensitive hair. And of course, these are just suggestions. It is your hair and only you know it best. Good luck :) :heartbeat

tangocurl
February 14th, 2018, 06:23 PM
You’re very pretty and please be kind to yourself :-)

Just wanted to chime in and say that I was doing everything right except could NOT let go of the heat styling 100% until this year. The last several years have been a lot less than my old ways. I stopped daily heat around 2013. The last four inches of my hair are a lot thinner and my ponytail is different thicknesses at different points/angles on my head. You can literally see where I changed my habits in 2013.

I feel your pain — I get stress shedding as well.

Glitch
February 14th, 2018, 11:53 PM
You’re very pretty and please be kind to yourself :-)

Just wanted to chime in and say that I was doing everything right except could NOT let go of the heat styling 100% until this year. The last several years have been a lot less than my old ways. I stopped daily heat around 2013. The last four inches of my hair are a lot thinner and my ponytail is different thicknesses at different points/angles on my head. You can literally see where I changed my habits in 2013.

I feel your pain — I get stress shedding as well.

I agree with everything you said, you summed it up really well :) We wish you the best, OP <3.

lapushka
February 15th, 2018, 08:16 AM
@beeboo123 & lapushka - my hair is not chemically treated & I never touch it with a blow dryer. I straighten it on a low setting with heat protectant about once a week during the winter. I don’t touch it with heat at all once it’s 50 degrees or higher outside & I can safely leave the house with wet hair to let it dry naturally wavy without getting sick. However in the first picture when my hair was super thick, I literally straightened it nearly every day, for years as well as dyed it blonde multiple times & my hair was perfectly fine. Now that I’m taking better care of it, it’s making zero difference.

Straightening = straightening. Even if the temperature is low *and* you use a heat protectant, you can still have damage. A blow dryer on warm/cool is far better than a straightener and won't create the damage a straightener will.

I would try and cut the straightener out. I'm willing to bet it's all breakage. Have you ever checked your hair for white dots, are there any short bits in it? Then that is enough to say yes it is breakage!

ravenheather
February 15th, 2018, 08:20 AM
I used to get white dots on my ends even after stopping all heat. It continued for a couple years. I think it was old blow dryer damage to shed or be trimmed out. I don't get them anymore. I would go completely heat free if I were you.

Beeboo123
February 15th, 2018, 08:32 AM
I used to get white dots on my ends even after stopping all heat. It continued for a couple years. I think it was old blow dryer damage to shed or be trimmed out. I don't get them anymore. I would go completely heat free if I were you.

I agree with this completely. Damage accumulates, hair doesn’t heal. As lapushka said, straightening will cause damage, and once a werk straightening is very frequent.

lapushka
February 15th, 2018, 08:34 AM
I used to get white dots on my ends even after stopping all heat. It continued for a couple years. I think it was old blow dryer damage to shed or be trimmed out. I don't get them anymore. I would go completely heat free if I were you.

A blow dryer used *smartly* is hardly going to bring harm! I have diffused weekly for all these years and I have 0 splits and 0 white dots. I do keep my temperature on warm/cool (depending on season).

MsMegMmk
February 15th, 2018, 08:44 AM
I'm sure it will come off as repetitive at this point, but heat styling out of everything damaged my hair the most. I dyed for years with minimal issues, but once I started borrowing my sister's flat iron that's when it really started snapping. It's definitely worth it to forgo the heat.

enting
February 15th, 2018, 09:50 AM
If you prepare a deep treatment for your hair to use right after clarifying, the clarifying shouldn't be too damaging to your hair. I'm going to add my voice to trying to clarify. I'll also add that some people's hair works backward and proteins help the breakage rather than causing more. My hair is naturally prone to breakage and I think adding some protein really helped it. It's like there wasn't enough body in the hairs for them to hold together well before. I do also oil, though.

If your scalp is really dry I wonder if massage would help it produce more oils and stimulate growth. A lot of people here like to do a gentle inverted massage. Nothing too rough, we don't want to abrade the hair you have. You'd want to make contact with your fingertips and then just move the skin a little without letting your fingertips slide around. If the scalp is too dry that could also contribute to hair breakage/hair loss. Oils and conditioner on the scalp might help, or they may end up being counterproductive if they work on your scalp like oil cleansing. It could also be counterproductive if your scalp has gotten used to the oils and conditioner and has reduced producing its own oils.

Some people's hair can tolerate straightening and heat. My hair can't, it's too fragile and split prone. It might be worth skipping any sort of heat styling, even on "cool" for a few months to see if there's any difference. If it doesn't make a difference then it's not a contributing factor, but omitting it is really the only way to know if it's affecting the situation.

I hope you can identify and eliminate the culprit soon!

lapushka
February 15th, 2018, 04:02 PM
Some people's hair can tolerate straightening and heat. My hair can't, it's too fragile and split prone. It might be worth skipping any sort of heat styling, even on "cool" for a few months to see if there's any difference. If it doesn't make a difference then it's not a contributing factor, but omitting it is really the only way to know if it's affecting the situation.

It's not going to take a few months, that damage is like growing it out from bald/shaved. So it is only after about 2/3 years that she is going to be able to tell. :flower:

akurah
February 16th, 2018, 12:40 AM
You can point a blow dryer on most settings at your skin without significant injuries unless it’s really prolonged. You cannot even touch a hot iron, straightener, or curling iron without injuring your skin unless it’s off and been off for some time.

Now consider: hair and skin are built from the same stuff.

ravenheather
February 16th, 2018, 05:24 AM
A blow dryer used *smartly* is hardly going to bring harm! I have diffused weekly for all these years and I have 0 splits and 0 white dots. I do keep my temperature on warm/cool (depending on season).

I am sure this is true. I'm my case I had used a blow dryer frequently on high.

enting
February 16th, 2018, 08:20 AM
It's not going to take a few months, that damage is like growing it out from bald/shaved. So it is only after about 2/3 years that she is going to be able to tell. :flower:

I figured talking about aiming for a few months might sound less overwhelming than a few years, on the off chance that OP can see a difference even at the roots in that time. But yes, if that's what's causing the damage, it will take a lot longer to grow out :flower:

lapushka
February 16th, 2018, 08:51 AM
I figured talking about aiming for a few months might sound less overwhelming than a few years, on the off chance that OP can see a difference even at the roots in that time. But yes, if that's what's causing the damage, it will take a lot longer to grow out :flower:

Oh and here's me stepping my big feet into that plan... I am so subtle. But yeah... heat damage is notorious and can do a lot of bad stuff to the hair. It could take a few months to see it getting better at the roots, true!

Lisa-K
February 18th, 2018, 09:37 AM
Whatever happened to the OP? Did she ever confirm that heat could be the culprit? Flat irons definitely caused major damage to my hair. But I have to say, I never bothered using a heat protectant lol I don't know if such a spray would have limited the damage somewhat.

lapushka
February 18th, 2018, 09:53 AM
Whatever happened to the OP? Did she ever confirm that heat could be the culprit? Flat irons definitely caused major damage to my hair. But I have to say, I never bothered using a heat protectant lol I don't know if such a spray would have limited the damage somewhat.

Yes it's like she vanished. :(

cathair
February 18th, 2018, 06:33 PM
:scissors:

@cathair - I don’t clarify.. I wanted to try it but I was told that clarifying shampoos would be too harsh on my extremely fragile hair. If you know of any that are more gentle, I’d love to know!
:scissors:

I've been using Redkin clarifying shampoo and it's been fine. I don't think it's worth it's money really, any clarifying shampoo or swimmers shampoo should be fine. I've heard nothing but good things about Neutrogenia Anti-residue shampoo which is a much better price than my Redkin stuff.

I strongly agree with what enting has said below. If you can follow it up with a moisturising conditioner, there shouldn't be a problem. It something you only use once in a blue moon.


If you prepare a deep treatment for your hair to use right after clarifying, the clarifying shouldn't be too damaging to your hair. I'm going to add my voice to trying to clarify. I'll also add that some people's hair works backward and proteins help the breakage rather than causing more. My hair is naturally prone to breakage and I think adding some protein really helped it. It's like there wasn't enough body in the hairs for them to hold together well before. I do also oil, though.


I've had problems growing out straightener damage. The line between old straightened hair and new never heat treated hair is so marked. The older hair is completely see-through it's so thin. It's a very deceptive habit because when you are straightening the hair feels so much better. But it can take years for the full extent of the damage to show up. It may even only really show at longer lengths if you were a very regular trimmer before.

Another thought I had is I did wonder if you use hairspray. Brushing out hairspray leaves a similar looking kinds of broken ends.

I hope you will give clarifying a go, I think it will help you work out your next move. I hope you're feeling okay too; we've all been there. It's just the beginning of your journey, things will get better :flower:

Kaya
February 18th, 2018, 07:42 PM
@beeboo123 & lapushka - my hair is not chemically treated & I never touch it with a blow dryer. I straighten it on a low setting with heat protectant about once a week during the winter. I don’t touch it with heat at all once it’s 50 degrees or higher outside & I can safely leave the house with wet hair to let it dry naturally wavy without getting sick. However in the first picture when my hair was super thick, I literally straightened it nearly every day, for years as well as dyed it blonde multiple times & my hair was perfectly fine. Now that I’m taking better care of it, it’s making zero difference.



I tend to agree with others that have suggested heat styling is quite harmful to hair.

What I bolded above, to me, seems to have the potential to explain your current issues. Straightening every day and dying (which if I may assume would involve bleach if you are a natural brunette) may not have seemed to cause excessive damage at the time, but it does have a cumulative effect in the long term. Ultimately, all that weakened your hair and most likely is resulting in breakage and thinning. Sadly, once hair is damaged, there really is not way to 'fix' it.

The best you can do it baby the heck out of your hair! :) I think you're on the right track with your routine; I'd strongly recommend quitting heat all together and when you're not pampering your hair, throw it up and forget about it!

ontheway
February 18th, 2018, 09:18 PM
It's not going to take a few months, that damage is like growing it out from bald/shaved. So it is only after about 2/3 years that she is going to be able to tell. :flower:

2/3 years?? Do you mean it takes 2-3 years for hair to be really, really, really long? 2/3 years is not how long it takes to grow some hair unless you have a medical condition/genetic balding. My hair probably grows 9 inches per year.

And I agree with what some people are saying. Try to give up heat completely. I used heat on my hair from when I was 13 until last year. I gave it up completely in October and now only use heat when I HAVE to (when it's really cold out or I need to hurry up for an event). I mostly prefer not to use it and honestly, my hair looks way better on the days when I don't use heat (although it looks way more voluminous when I use heat, still looks voluminous without heat).

It sucks to go from having perfect-looking hair every day to suddenly having a wild mane, but it'll be worth it one day. I'm convinced that pulling on my hairs with my brush (while blow drying) really affected my hair. I'm actually just noticing my hairline go back to normal, which is incredible as it was wonky for a while. Get off the heat!

lapushka
February 19th, 2018, 04:48 AM
2/3 years?? Do you mean it takes 2-3 years for hair to be really, really, really long? 2/3 years is not how long it takes to grow some hair unless you have a medical condition/genetic balding. My hair probably grows 9 inches per year.

And I agree with what some people are saying. Try to give up heat completely. I used heat on my hair from when I was 13 until last year. I gave it up completely in October and now only use heat when I HAVE to (when it's really cold out or I need to hurry up for an event). I mostly prefer not to use it and honestly, my hair looks way better on the days when I don't use heat (although it looks way more voluminous when I use heat, still looks voluminous without heat).

It sucks to go from having perfect-looking hair every day to suddenly having a wild mane, but it'll be worth it one day. I'm convinced that pulling on my hairs with my brush (while blow drying) really affected my hair. I'm actually just noticing my hairline go back to normal, which is incredible as it was wonky for a while. Get off the heat!

9 inches per year is quite exceptional. Average is 6 inches. So when you want to be back at shoulder to APL, a bit shorter than her hair is currently, it is going to take 2/3 years, at least!

chomsky
February 19th, 2018, 05:26 AM
2/3 years?? Do you mean it takes 2-3 years for hair to be really, really, really long? 2/3 years is not how long it takes to grow some hair unless you have a medical condition/genetic balding. My hair probably grows 9 inches per year.

9 inches a year? Wow that's fast!

It took me just under 2 years to grow my damage out to APL, and my hair is pretty speedy in the summer. Hopefully all my healthy hair will be at BSL the end of the year. Growing from nothing takes forever.

enting
February 19th, 2018, 05:55 AM
I'm closer to 4 inches a year as best as I can tell!

Ligeia Noire
February 19th, 2018, 06:09 AM
9 inches? Damn...you sure?

lapushka
February 19th, 2018, 06:17 AM
I say 2/3 years, because when I had bald patches... it took me so long to go back to about shoulder to APL, if I remember correctly. I think I was almost APL, mmmyeah rather between shoulder & APL (with lots of fairytaling at that length due to the issue at hand). It's what I know and from which I referenced my estimate, I think.

Do you guys think I'm way off? :hmm:

4 inches isn't bad at all, enting! :flower: Like I mentioned 6 is just "average", which means some can grow more, and some grow less. Nothing abnormal about it. It's what you know.

But wow 9 inches... are you sure you measured correctly, ontheway?

enting
February 19th, 2018, 08:53 AM
I'm ok with my growth rate lapushka :flower:. I mentioned it as more evidence of the range of growth rates! I think 2/3 years to regrow hair, even if it's *not* long long, is pretty reasonable for most people. (For long long for most people I'd estimate about 5-7 years, give or take trimming) I have known people with something that looks like a foot a year type rate. The range of normal growth rates is pretty amazing, but with no other information given, assuming around 6 inches a year makes sense to me.

lapushka
February 19th, 2018, 09:47 AM
I'm ok with my growth rate lapushka :flower:. I mentioned it as more evidence of the range of growth rates! I think 2/3 years to regrow hair, even if it's *not* long long, is pretty reasonable for most people. (For long long for most people I'd estimate about 5-7 years, give or take trimming) I have known people with something that looks like a foot a year type rate. The range of normal growth rates is pretty amazing, but with no other information given, assuming around 6 inches a year makes sense to me.

Oh OK. :) :flower:

I'm glad I wasn't too far off then. :o